SCORE: Tennessee 5, Texas 3 | FINAL
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Tennessee softball’s 2026 Women’s College World Series run is set to begin on Thursday afternoon. The No. 7 Lady Vols meet No. 2 Texas in Oklahoma City in the opening round of the two-loss elimination bracket.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
“Just a phenomenal team from top to bottom, every facet of the game,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said about Texas. “Teagan Kavan, obviously one of the best pitchers in the game. Gutierrez, another one. I remember when Texas came to our place in 2023 for Supers and all their seniors now were freshmen, and I remember then thinking that is going to be an exceptional team as those women get more experience. Obviously they won the National Championship last year.
“Their offense is very dynamic. They’ve got the righty power. They’ve got the lefties who can spray the ball all over the field, hit with power, run really, really well. They have a little bit of everything. You don’t expect anything less here at the World Series. They’re going to be a tough opponent to beat, but I think our team will be ready for the challenge.”
Opponent Scout – Texas
- 2026 record
- 47-11 (16-18 SEC)
- 2026 BAVG leader
- Katie Stewart – .436
- 2026 HR leader
- Katie Stewart – 27
- 2026 ERA leader
- Citlaly Gutierrez – 2.21
SERIES HISTORY:
- Overall: 8-7 Texas
- Neutral Site: 5-3 Texas
- Current streak: 1 W Texas
- Last meeting: 2-0 Texas (6/2/25 – WCWS)
Lineups and pitching matchups are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
CF Sophia Knight (L)
3B Ella Dodge (L)
2B Emma Clarke (R)
DP Alannah Leach (L)
1B Makenzie Butt (R)
C Elsa Morrison (R)
RF Gabby Leach (L)
SS Bella Faw (R)
LF Taelyn Holley (L)
TEXAS STARTING NINE:
CF Kayden Henry (L)
1B Katie Stewart (R)
SS Viviana Martinez (L)
C Reese Atwood (R)
2B Leighann Goode (R)
DP Hannah Wells (R)
RF Ashton Maloney (L)
LF Kaiah Altmeyer (L)
3B Jaycie Nichols (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Tennessee – Sage Mardjetko (1.12 ERA, 14-2)
vs.
Texas – Teagan Kavan (2.47 ERA, 25-5)
Uniforms
Tennessee: All orange
Texas: All white
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Sophia Knight grounds out to pitcher
-Ella Dodge flies out to center
-Emma Clarke grounds out to short
END HALF INNING
B1
-Kayden Henry lines out to second
-Katie Stewart grounds out to first
-Viviana Martinez flies out to right
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 0, Texas 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Alannah Leach hit by pitch
-Makenzie Butt walks, A. Leach to second
-Elsa Morrison homers to center, A. Leach scores, Butt scores
-Gabby Leach strikes out swinging
-Bella Faw grounds out to third
-Taelyn Holley strikes out swinging
END HALF INNING
B2
-Reese Atwood pops out to third
-Leighann Goode walks
-Hannah Wells strikes out swinging
-Ashton Maloney grounds out to second
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 3, Texas 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Sophia Knight fouls out to left
-Ella Dodge doubles to left
- Incredible swim move on a head-first slide to avoid the tag
-Emma Clarke bloop singles to center, Dodge advances to third, Clarke advances to second
- Dodge ruled out on the field, call reviewed and overturned
-Alannah Leach grounds into fielder’s choice to short, Dodge out at home, Clarke to third. A. Leach to second
-Makenzie Butt strikes out swinging
END HALF INNING
B3
-Kaiah Altmeyer grounds out to pitcher
-Jaycie Nichols singles up the middle
-Kayden Henry lines into double play to first, Nichols out
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 3, Texas 0
4th Inning:
T4
*Citlaly Guiterrez in to pitch for Kavan
-Elsa Morrison flies out to center
-Gabby Leach fouls out to left
-Bella Faw pops out to second
END HALF INNING
B4
-Katie Stewart grounds out to second
-Viviana Martinez walks
-Reese Atwood lines out to second
-Leighann Goode grounds out to third
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 3, Texas 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Taelyn Holley singles up the middle
Holley advances to second on a wild pitch
-Sophia Knight grounds out to first, Holley to third
Holley scores on a wild pitch
-Ella Dodge strikes out swinging
-Emma Clarke grounds out to third.
END HALF INNING
B5
*Karlyn Pickens in to pitch for Mardjetko
-Hannah Wells singles up the middle
*Taylor Anderson pinch-runs for Wells
-Ashton Maloney singles to pitcher, Anderson to second
-Kaiah Altmeyer fouls out to catcher
*Victoria Hunter pinch-hitting for Jaycie Nichols
-Victoria Hunter grounds into fielder’s choice to short, Maloney out at second, throwing error to first allows Hunter to reach safely, Anderson scores
*Jayce Nichols re-enters for Hunter to run at first
Nichols advances to second on wild pitch
-Kayden Henry flies out to center
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 4, Texas 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Alannah Leach grounds out to third
-Makenzie Butt strikes out swinging
-Elsa Morrison doubles to right-center
- Off the very, very top of the wall
*Zoie Shuler pinch-runs for Morrison
-Gabby Leach singles to right side of infield, Shulder scores
*Meredith Barnhart pinch-hitting for Bella Faw
-Meredith Barnhart pops out to short
END HALF INNING
B6
-Katie Stewart strikes out swinging
-Viviana Martinez grounds out to first
-Reese Atwood singles to left
-Leighann Goode homers to center, Atwood scores
-Hannah Wells strikes out swinging
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 5, Texas 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Taelyn Holley walks
-Sophia Knight bunts for single, Holley to second
-Ella Dodge bunts out, Holley to third, Knight to second
-Emma Clarke sac-fly to left, Holley scores, Knight out at third
- Texas challenges if Holley left third early. Call on the field is confirmed.
END HALF INNING
B7
-Ashton Maloney grounds out to short
-Kaiah Altmeyer grounds out to short
-Jayce Nichols grounds out to third
END INNING
Score: Tennessee 6, Texas 3
FINAL: Tennessee 6, TEXAS 3
